GIRLS SOCCER: Sequim’s Claire Henninger is the All-Peninsula MVP

SEQUIM — Sequim goalkeeper Claire Henninger thought about what she could do to boost her team’s underclassmen-heavy roster prior to her junior soccer season.

“I definitely try to build them up,” Henninger said of motivating her teammates.

“Before the season I thought about how I wanted to be better at communicating, not just about keeping balls out of the goal but helping my teammates more.

“Lots of times before games, I’d say, ‘Lets get some shots from you, lets see some good crosses, some good marking, let’s get that connection going.’ ’

“We had a lot of young players and they needed encouragement. The other teams were bigger and older and more experienced and they needed the boost to know they could play at that level.”

They could. And so could Henninger, who has been a fixture in goal for Sequim since her freshman season.

And this season, and Henninger’s paramount role as the last line of defense for a Wolves team that produced an 11-8-1 record, the most wins in school history, as well as 10 shutouts and a district playoff victory, was extra special.

“She’s a phenomenal goalkeeper and definitely kept us in the game many times and won us some games,” first-year Sequim head coach Derek Vander Velde said.

“We needed to a be a highly-defensive team to be successful. Defense has to come first before you can even think about attacking, and having a goalie like Claire to help set up our defensive structure and make clutch saves was crucial.”

Vander Velde said Henninger’s play was a motivator for her Sequim teammates.

“And I think the team really respects her,” he said. “They have a lot of faith in her ability as a keeper. Her play gives them confidence, that if it gets through everybody, they have that last line of defense in the box.”

Henninger was selected to the All-Olympic League 2A Division by league coaches.

She’s also the All-Peninsula MVP as determined by area coaches and the sports staff of the Peninsula Daily News.

Henninger, who has played the position since she started organized soccer at the U8 level, welcomes the spotlight on the soccer field’s most solitary position.

“I enjoy having a role that gives me more responsibility and an ability to change the outcome of our games,” Henninger said. “It’s where I can help the team more. I think it gives us the biggest chance of helping us out and getting us some Ws [wins].”

She follows a familiar routine before and during games.

“I have to make one last save in pregame,” Henninger said.

“Then I walk around and touch each [goal] post and the crossbar, and walk around and make it my home. It’s my area and nobody else is getting in there. And when we switch after halftime I do the same thing.”

The Wolves accomplished so much and had so many memorable moments Henninger was hard-pressed to stick to remembering just one.

“We beat North Kitsap I think for the first time ever in a shootout, and that was one of my favorite wins for sure.” Henninger who recorded 13 saves in the game and during the penalty-kick shootout, said.

“That was amazing. And beating Port Angeles in a shootout and the district win [over Steilacoom] in shootout. Those were the most meaningful games I have had in my high school career.”

With her team’s defensive focus, Henninger knew she would have a lot of nervy moments in goal in pressure-packed penalty shootouts.

“Before they kick, I look at who is shooting at me and glare at them and try and psyche them out and be as imposing as I could,” Henninger said.

“Ultimately, I just look at the ball and focus on the ball. Only if I can tell that somebody’s hips are turning do I look at that.

“I wanted to stop one out of every five shots, that was the goal and I think I did that during the season. And I had a goal to make my [penalty] shots, too.”

That’s right, Henninger also takes penalty kicks for the Wolves. And makes them.

“She’s pretty spot-on with her PK’s,” Vander Velde said.

“Claire’s ball skills are incredible. I could put her up top [as a forward], but as but as keeper that’s where she’s the most valuable.”

Henninger looks back at the season proudly.

“One of the biggest things that stood out to me was 10 shutouts this season in 16 games,” she said.

“That’s a really big accomplishment for us and not many teams can do that. I credit an improved team dynamic with our new coach, weightlifting sessions, hard work in practices, and you could see that connection come through out on the field. We played for each other and fought for each other. It was a big difference from previous seasons and making the postseason was incredible for everybody to be apart of.”

She’ll keep honing her craft in the offseason.

“You can always get better on technique, so I will continue to work on my technique,” Henninger said. “My senior season I just want to ball out and have a good time and do some crazy things and go all out and have no regrets. I don’t want to look back and think I could have done more.”

All-Peninsula Girls Soccer Team

MVP: Claire Henninger, junior, Sequim

Forward: Emily Boyd, junior, Port Angeles

Forward: Jessica Dietzman, freshman, Sequim

Forward: Sierra Robinson, junior, Port Angeles

Forward: Delaney Wenzl, freshman, Port Angeles

Midfielder: Adare McMinn, junior, Sequim

Midfielder: Taylar Clark, senior, Port Angeles

Midfielder: Krysten McGuffey, sophomore, Port Angeles

Defender/Midfielder: Shannon Cosgrove, junior, Port Angeles

Defender: Erin Vig, senior, Sequim

Defender: Nathalie Torres, sophomore, Sequim